Russian Arctic to be made tourist attraction

A tourist zone will be created on the premises of the Russian Arctic National Park in the north of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and on the islands of Franz Josef Land.

According to local officials, the construction of helicopter pads and harbors to receive cruise vessels will begin this summer.

Former polar stations and deserted military bases will be transformed into tourist centers and virgin territories will be open only for research.

The Russian Arctic, the northernmost nature reserve in Eurasia, is home to the biggest colonies of birds and rookeries in the Northern Hemisphere.

It is populated by polar bears, Greenland whales, white seagulls and other Red Book species.

TASS